Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy

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C. Boyden Gray, the current Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy
C. Boyden Gray, the current Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy

The Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy is a position within the United States Department of State. The envoy will "engage directly with senior European, Central Asian, Russian and other political and business leaders to support the continued development and diversification of the energy sector."[1] The position is currently filled by Clayland Boyden Gray.

Though legislation calling for the position was drafted in 2007, no notable action occurred until February 2008. Responding to questions on the issue at a briefing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reaffirmed that the State Department was looking to appoint a special energy coordinator for the Central Asian and Caspian region.[2][3]

After this announcement, however, the Bush administration had difficulty finding someone to fill the position. Thomas Pickering was reportedly high on the list, but he withdrew himself from consideration in early 2008.[4] On March 31, 2008 the Bush administration added the position to the responsibilities of Clayland Boyden Gray, who is also the current United States Ambassador to the European Union.[1]

[edit] References

Energy Portal
  1. ^ a b Statement by the Press Secretary - March 31, 2008 The White House
  2. ^ Rice’s Opening Remarks at Senate Foreign Relations Committee America.gov
  3. ^ Rice: US Naming Special Energy Envoy Yahoo! Finance
  4. ^ US Diplomats Set Their Sights On Turkmenistan's Berdymukhamedov Eurasianet
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